People who belong to Jesus are supposed to be distinct. If we think, speak, and live like everyone else, it looks like Jesus makes no difference for us. Daniel provides a powerful example of how to be faithfully distinct in the midst of a culture that is moving away from God.

There is a stark contrast between the ways of God and the ways of the world. The greater the divergence, the more difficult it is for people to live faithfully for God. The book of Daniel provides a story of a young man who remained faithful to God in the midst of a godless culture. The story of Daniel shows us how to be an influence for God rather than being influenced away from God.